Kinect user discussion thread

If one gets the Kinect bundle (with the 360 250GB), I'm told it doesn't include the power adapter for older consoles.

My partner I wanted to get the console with the bundle, then share the Kinect...but I've an old 360.

Do the power cables get sold separately? I've not been able to find them...I don't want to pay the $50 premium of buying the Kinect separately just for a $1-2 cable...

 

Thanks. That's a lot of markup...might just purchase the $150 standalone.

 

Well what do your other girlfriends think of Kinect?

 

Heh, that's what I get for accidentally leaving out a space between girl and friend.

Regards,
SB

 

I don't need mine

 

I'll post my impressions tonight or tomorrow. Went to quite a few big retailers and couldn't find the kinect sensor bar. It was sold out everywhere. There were a good number of bundles available just about everywhere I looked, but the individual accessory was pretty much non-existent. I ended up going to EB Games, which is usually my last resort, and the manager actually sold me a pre-order that hadn't been picked up since launch day. It was the only one they had, so I was pretty lucky to get it.

 

I started boxing in Kinect Sports and just couldn't stop. I have to save my energy for the virtual beat down Robert will give me tonight. I have to say, I wish I'd never seen this thing before I played it because I would have shit my pants if someone put it in front of me and I didn't know what it was. I've seen the videos showing all the lag, but I just don't feel it while I'm actually playing. Table Tennis is great, boxing is great, bowling is so so and even the soccer is kind of fun, despite how primitive it is. But really, I'm just going to box a lot.

The goalie mini-game in sports is awesome. I need to bust out some shorts for that one, so I can be quicker on the low saves. Haven't tried Adventures yet.

For setup, I had to move some lights in my living room around, because it couldn't see me well enough for the facial recognition. Haven't tried playing in the dark. Space is definitely an issue. The games require a lot of activity, so you really have to be able to move around. I'm guessing 2 players would be demanding. I have the space for it, so I'll have to try it out.

Never played with Eyetoy or Vision, so I dont know how it compares, but seeing my avatar move as I do is pretty damned cool and eerie. I mean, any time I have a chance to showboat, I move around and see how well it picks things up. If you completely spazz, it does some weird things, but in general if you move as a normal human being would, it picks up what you're doing. Ever want to fist pump at your opponent, well you can do it now.

 

I wonder if they can make all Vision games compatible with Kinect.
I downloaded the free Vision game (Totem ball????), but I have never tried it out.

Also, I believe that Uno and Texas Hold'em is Vision enabled.

 

I am completely beat. so much boxing. I beat the computer on champ, which was tough and tiring. Playing against Robert and his girlfriend online was awesome. All of the weird showboating and posturing was hilarious. I ace served him in table tennis while leaning to one side with my opposite leg above the table. It totally fooled him.

Little touches like having the crowd cheer when you raise your arms above your head just make the whole thing really cool.

 

Yeah, good times. I love running through the Reflex Ridge from start to finish in one go. Killer leg workout.

As Scott points out, Kinect Sports is just awesome. So many little touches you find throughout. Well done Rare. The biggest knock against KS are the menu's. They need to be streamlined. Should be easily patchable.

I think between KS and KA, I did over 2 hours of straight work out. Drenched in sweat but it was awesome. As long as I'm not too sore tomorrow, I'm up for more.

 

Heh, the photos can be quite hilarious. This female friend of mine that I was playing with almost liked those more than the actual game (which she had quite a bit of fun with). She's not a gamer at all, much less a console gamer. But she likes it so much she wants me to bring it over to her place sometime so she can show her parents. As well so we can do full on jumping without making the neighbors downstairs (condo) wonder what the heck is going on.

I'm frankly amazed that it was able to make her, a gaming skeptic and console hater, do a 180 and suddenly be asking me to use my X360.

Damn, between your experiences and Scott's I may have to pick up Kinect Sports. I was going to initially skip that one as the online video's I've seen haven't looked all that fun. But for your first hand experiences it sounds like it may be a whole lot more fun than I was giving it credit for.

Either way, although I've only had a chance to play one of the games so far, Kinect Adventures, and that only briefly, I can already tell I'm going to get a great workout no matter what game I play (well except for Joyride perhaps).

Looking forward to trying Your Shape and Dance Central tomorrow. Kinect makes me feel like a kid again. My body on the other hand likes to remind me that I'm getting up there in age.

Regards,
SB

 

I liked the concept of Kinect when I first saw it as Natal. After playing the games, alone and with my family, I would say it is most definetly worth every penny. My wife, who has never played the 360, actually enjoys playing Kinect Adventures and Kinect Sports (beat me by 13 pins in bowling).

Our 10 and 13 year old girls though? Have fallen in love. They both have a Wii. The 10 year old said Kinect Sports made her tired, but was great fun! The 13 year old has been texting away to her friends how playing it makes her feel "magical." She even talked about how she was trying to explain to one of her friends how Kinect "may be a motion gaming copy" of Wii, but it is "way different" and "a lot more fun."

I'd have to say the system works extremly well, and Microsoft may have also hit the mark with the casual and non-gaming public.

 

Then let me add another. Kinect Sports is a great buy. I'd dare say must by judgeing the amount of fun I've had with it.

 

Hoping to read some good Your Fitness impressions soon. The tech behind it seems impressive, I'm just curious how the actual design of the game plays out.

Hey thanks, I'll have to check that out.

 

Mine is mounted low, and it definitely requires a good distance from the sensor. I'd like to mount mine higher, so I can stand a little closer, since my screen is small.

 

Get a small shelf and mount it to the wall above and behind the screen. The higher kinect is, the better it seems to work and requires less space.